Written by: Candy Kaiser
VOTE NO JOHN WEST RECALL
Here is one more reason to vote no.
Jay Meredith one of the petitioners, wrote an article in the Grants Pass Tribune on December 1st, highlighting Commissioner John West’s decision to withdraw from a proposed debate. While the debate appeared to pit West against three petitioners, the situation was far more complex due to a lengthy list of requirements submitted by the recall committee.
“The entire list made it clear that the petitioners were not genuinely committed to a debate. They crafted the requirements in such an impossible way that no one would have agreed to them.”
Initially, John West agreed to participate in the debate with leaders of the Committee to Recall John West. However, he later withdrew after the committee demanded extensive documentation. The petitioners submitted a list of nine detailed requirements, each lengthy and highly specific. Many observers have suggested that this was less of a debate and more of a setup.
One of the most controversial requirements was:
Condition #5:
Commissioner West must agree in writing not to file a lawsuit against the Committee to Recall John West, any petitioner, director, or recall committee member in relation to their participation in gathering signatures or campaigning for the recall measure. This agreement excluded lawsuits already filed as of November 17, 2024. The condition referenced the Oregon Constitution and the Josephine County Charter, emphasizing citizens’ constitutional rights to initiate recall petitions and gather signatures.
This condition and others have sparked ongoing debate about the fairness and feasibility of the recall committee’s demands, raising questions about whether the process was intended to foster genuine dialogue or discredit West.